Zeiss, voightlander or leitzlens? on R3A

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vantomas

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hi everybody,

i am not new to RF cameras (have used a leica M6 for a few years, which i sold, when my job forced me to go digital. and now i regret!), but i have never used a bessa before. after some research i decided to go for the R3A, which has the A mode, which i like and need, and the larger finder. I was planing on buying the 40/1.4 with it and i wondered if the leica 50/2 or der Zeiss ZM 50/2 are worth the extra buck? and what will happen, when i put a 35mm lens on the R3A? will there be any lines in the VF? or should i pick up another M6, whcih are really cheap right now, but don't have the A mode? I will probably use the RF for private projects only, thus not very often. it should be a travel and everyday companion.

any real world experience very welcome!!!

thanks a lot.
thomas

www.vantomas.de
 
Framelines on Bessas are set manually, with a switch on the top of the camera. Voigtlander lenses are very good. I've never compared them directly to Leica or Zeiss lenses, but most people seem to think that their performance is very, very close to their more expensive competition.
 
thomas,
Start on the cheap, with a 40mm Nokton, or 40mm C Summicron or M Hexanon, plus the CV 75/2.5 Heliar. Then you can decide what else you would need - for me a R4A with a 28 lens would round out your kit.
 
Don't forget about the R2A which has 35mm framelines.

There are plenty of good modern 50mm lenses out there. I like my 50mm f/2 Konica Hexanon very much. The Planar is nice too, but the Hexanon feels better made to me. With those two great options, I've never really understood paying more for a Summicron.
 
thank you!

thank you!

thanks guys! always nice to hear. i do my very best and so far i was able to make a living from portraiture. just in case you're interested the pictures in the portrait and corporate section are a wild mix of cameras. hasselblad h1, contax 645, pentax 645, canon 5d, 1DsMkIII, then some Pentax 67 and toyo4x5...but at the end of the day it alwys seems to be the same kind of images one takes. now i think it's time for a RF! 😉

Andrew Sowerby said:
I also completely agree with Ryan (enochRoot), your portraits are fantastic. Whatever lens you choose, your pictures will be great.
Click to expand...
 
thomas
If you want to try something for portraiture, you have never been able to try with any of your cameras, look up the shots from the C Sonnar 50/1.5 in this Flickr group>
http://www.flickr.com/groups/86731438@N00/pool/tags/ZeissCSonnar50mmf1.5

BTW, seeing you can probably sell something to get a decent RF camera, go directly for the Zeiss Ikon, skip the Bessas and Leicas, this is the best tool for the money on the market now. Actually , there's one which looks good in the classifieds now...
 
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depends on the kit you want.

50mm and 35mm: r2a or zeiss ikon
40mm: r3a

if i had to pick between the 40mm nokton, latest 50mm summicron, and 50mm planar, i would go for the planar, just because of its reputation. the 50/1.5 c sonnar is also supposed to be a special lens for portraiture. i wouldn't mind it if someone gave me a zi with the 50/1.5 and 35/2.8 for christmas.
 
The R3A is awesome with 50mm lenses. I have a canon 50 1.4, delicious!
1:1 viewfinder and a nice wee bit of room around the 50 framelines, brilliant for shooting with both eyes open!

75mm is pretty good too.

I do have designs on the nokton 40mm 1.4 one day though..
 
you have a point, but to start of thats a lot of money. and i am not sure if i really use an RF that often. thats why i looked at the bessas, which seem cheap and reasonable. the R3A + 40/1.4 i could pick up for EUR 750.- here in germany. the cheapest zeiss lens, the 50/2 start at EUR 699.-


mfogiel said:
thomas
If you want to try something for portraiture, you have never been able to try with any of your cameras, look up the shots from the C Sonnar 50/1.5 in this Flickr group>
http://www.flickr.com/groups/86731438@N00/pool/tags/ZeissCSonnar50mmf1.5

BTW, seeing you can probably sell something to get a decent RF camera, go directly for the Zeiss Ikon, skip the Bessas and Leicas, this is the best tool for the money on the market now. Actually , there's one which looks good in the classifieds now...
Click to expand...
 
I think you are decided on the R3A and the 40/1.4.

It's a very good choice.

Now all you need to do is to decide between the two versions of the lens: multicoated or single coated!
 
vantomas said:
thats why i looked at the bessas, which seem cheap and reasonable. the R3A + 40/1.4 i could pick up for EUR 750.- here in germany. the cheapest zeiss lens, the 50/2 start at EUR 699.-
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Thomas,
First of all, welcome! I do agree - great portraits!

Did you check fotopartner.de's Tauschaktion for the Bessa?

Cheers,
Uwe
 
thanks for your offer jon, but i need to buy it in germany with an invoice stating the sales tax.

ClaremontPhoto said:
I think you are decided on the R3A and the 40/1.4.

It's a very good choice.

Now all you need to do is to decide between the two versions of the lens: multicoated or single coated!
Click to expand...
 
hi uwe, just checked the swapdeal. unfortunately i dont have any old slr to trade. but danke schoen for the hint. bessas in general are hard to find. i was wanting to look at one in munich, but no chance! not one dealer has voigtländer in munich.

Uwe_Nds said:
Thomas,
First of all, welcome! I do agree - great portraits!

Did you check fotopartner.de's Tauschaktion for the Bessa?

Cheers,
Uwe
Click to expand...
 
If you are going to get the R3A and your preferred use is portraiture, I would recommend you have a long hard look at the CV Nokton 50mm f1.5. I have a swelling collection of 50mm lens, but the Nokton is quickly becoming my favorite. In fact, I own two Noktons, but will probably put one on the market soon.

A recent candid portrait session...

Broken | Sydney, Australia 2008
The%20Artist.jpg

Bessa R2 | Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f1.5 | Plus-X | Rodinal 1:100 Stand
 
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